University of Virginia Library

Actus secundus.

Enter Philocles, Clerimont at the window.
Cler.
See Philocles, yonders that happy shade,
That often vailes the faire Lucothoe,
And this her vsuall howre, sheele not be long,
Then thou shalt tell me, if so rare an obiect
Ere blest thine eyes before.

Phil.
Well, I would see her once,
Wert but to try thy iudgement Cleremont.

Cler.
And when thou doest, remember what I told thee,
I would not be so sicke, but soft looke to thy heart,
Yonder she comes, and thats her waiting woman.
Leucothoe and Psecas in the garden.
Now gaze thy fill, speake man how likest thou her.

Leu.
Psecas.

Psecas.
Madam.

Leu.
What flower was that
That thou wert telling such a story of
Last night to me.

Pse.
Tis call Narcissus Madam.
It beares the name of that too beautious boy,
That lost himselfe by louing of himselfe,
Who viewing in a faire and cristall streame
Those lips that onely he could neuer kisse,
Dotes on the shadow, which to reach in vaine
Striuing, he drwones thus scorning all beside
For the loued shadow the fairer substance dyde.

Leu.
Fie fie, I like not these impossible tales,
A man to fall in loue with his owne shadow,
And died for loue, it is most ridiculous.

Pse.
Madam I know not, I haue often seene
Both men and women court the looking glasse
With so much seeming contentation,
That I could thinke this true, nay weare it about vm
As louers do their Mistresse counterfeit.

Leu.
Thats not for loue, but to correct their beauties
And draw from others admiration,
For all the comfort that our faces giue
Vnto our selues is but reflection
Of that faire likeing that another takes.

Cler.
I would we were a little neerer vm
We might but heare what talke these wenches haue
When they are alone I warrant some good stuffe.

Phi.
Tis happinesse enough for me to see
The motion of her lips.

Cler.
I faith ist there abouts,
Why Philocles, what lost already man,
Strooke dead with one poore glance, looke vp for shame
And tell me how thou likest my iudgement now,
Now thou doest see.

Phi.
Ah Cleremont too well,
Too well I see what I shall neuer taste,
Yon Ladies beautie: she must needs be cruell
(Though her faire shape deny it) to the sonne
Of him that is her fathers enemy,
That, Cleremont, that fatall difference
Checkes my desire, and sinkes my rising hopes,
But loue's a torrent violent if stopt,
And I am desperately mad: I must
I must be hers, or else I must not be.

Cler.
Containe that passion that will else ouerwhelme
All vertue in you, all that is called man,
And should be yours, take my aduice my heart
My life to second you, let vs consult,
You may find time to speake to her and woe her.

Phi.
May, nay I will in spite of destinie,
Let women and faint hearted fooles complaine
In languishing dispayre, a manly loue
Dares shew it selfe and presse to his desires
Through thickest troopes of horid opposites,
Were there a thousand waking Dragons set
To keepe that golden fruit: I would attempt
To plucke and taste it, tis the danger crownes
A braue atchieuement: what if I should goe
And boldly wooe her in her fathers house
In spite enmity, what could they say?

Cle.
Twere madnesse that not wisedome rash attempts
Betray the meanes, but neuer worke the end.

Phi.
She would not hate a man for louing her,
Or if she did, better be once deemed
Then liue for euer haplesse.

Cle.
But take time,
The second thoughts our wise men say are best.

Pli.
Delaye's a double death, no I haue thought
A meanes, that straight Ile put in execution,
Ile write a Letter to her presently,
Take how it will.

Cle.
A Letter, who shall carry it?

Pli.
Ile tell thee when I haue done, hast thou Pen and
Inke in thy Chamber.

Cle.

Yes, there is one vpon the Table, Ile stay here at the
window, and watch whether she stay or not, what a sudden
change is this.

Leu.
Did not count Virro promise to be heare
To day at dinner.

Pse.
Yes Madame that he did, and I dare sweare
He will not breake.

Leu.
He needes not, he is rich enough, vnlesse

Hee should breake in knauery, as some of our Merchants
doe now adayes.

Pse.
Breake promise Madame I meane, & that he will not
For your sake, you know his businesse.

Leu.
I would I did not, he might spare his paines
And that vnusuall cost, that he bestowes
In pranking vp himselfe, and please me better
He would not please his Taylor and his Barbar,
For they got more for your sake by their Lord
Then they got this twenty yeeres before.

Leu.
Ah Psecas, Psecas, can my father thinke
That I can loue Count Virro, one so old
(That were enough to make a match vnfit)
But one so base, a man that neuer loued
For any thing called good, but drosse and pelfe,
One that would neuer, had my brother liued
Haue mooued this sute, no I can neuer loue him,
But canst thou keepe a secret firmely Psecas.

Pse.
Doubt me not Madame.

Leu.
Well Ile tell thee then,
I loue, alas, I dare not say I loue him,
But there's a yong and noble Gentleman,
Lord Euphues sonne, my fathers enemy.
A man whom natures prodigality
Stretcht euen to enuy in the making vp,
Once from a Window my pleased eye beheld
This youthfull Gallant as he rode the streete,
On a coruetting Courser, who it seemed
Knew his faire loade, and with a proud disdaine
Checkt the base earth, my father being by
I ask't his name, he told me Philocles,
The sonne and Heyre of his great enemy:
Iudge Psecas then, how my deuided brest,
Suffered betweene two meeting contraries,
Hatred and Loue, but Loues a deity,
And must preuaile against mortals, whose command
Not Ioue himselfe could euer yet withstand.

Cle.
What is the letter done already, I see these Louers haue nimble inuentions, but how will you send it.

Phi.
What a question's that, seest thou this stone.

Cle.
Ah, then I see your drift, this stone must guide your
Fleeting Letter in the Ayre, and carry it to that
Faire Marke you ayme at.

Phi.
Hard by her.

Cle.
I think you would not hit her with such stones as this,
Lady looke to your selfe, he that now throwes one
Stone at you, hopes to hit you with two.

Phi.

But prethee tell mee what doest thinke this Letter
may doe.

Cle.
Well I hope,
Tis ten to one this Lady oft hath seene you,
You neuer liued obscure in Syracuse,
Nor walk'd the streetes vnknowne, and who can tell
What place you beare in her affections,
Lou'd or mislik'd; if bad, this letter sent,
Will make her shew her scorne, if otherwise,
Feare not a womans wit, sheele find a time
To answere your kind Letter, and expresse
What you desire she should, then send it boldly,
You haue a fairer make there.

Phi.
Cupid guide my arme,
Oh be as iust blind God as thou art great,
And with that powerfull hand, that golden shaft
That I was wounded, wound yon tender brest,
There is no salue but that, no cure for me,

Cle.
See what a wonder it strikes vm in, how it should come.

Phi.
Sheele wonder more to see, what man it comes from.

Cle.
I like her well, yet she is not afraid to open it:
She starts, stay marke her action when shee has read the Letter.

She reades
[Leu.]
“Let it wrong this Letter that it came,
“From one that trembled to subscribe his name,
“Fearing your hate, O let not hate descend,
“Nor make you cruell to so vow'd a friend,
“If youle not promise loue, grant but accesse,
“And let me know my woes are past redresse,
“Be iust then beautious Iudge, and like the lawes
“Condemne me not till you haue heard my cause,
“Which when you haue, from those faire lips returne
“Either my life in loue, or death in scorne.

Yours or not, Philocles:

Pse.
Madame the words are there,
Ile sweare it canna be, nor be illusion.

Leu.
It is too good for truth.

Phi.
Mocke me not fortune,
She kist it, sawest thou her, by heauen she kist it.

Cle.
And with a looke that relisht loue, not scorne,

Leu.

This Letter may be forged, I much desire to know
the certainty, Psecas thy helpe must further me.

Pse.

Ile not be wanting.

Leu.

Here comes my father, he must not see this.

Pse.

No nor your tother sweet heart, hee is with him
yonder.

Enter Polimetes, Virro, Roscio.
Pol.
Nay noble Count you are too old a Souldier
To take a maides first no, for a deniall,
They will be nice at first, men must pursue
That will obtaine, woe her my Lord and take her,
You haue my free consent if you can get hers,
Yonder she walkes alone, goe comfort her.

Uirro.
Ile doe the best I may, but we old men
Are but cold comfort, I thanke your Lordships loue.

Pol.
I wonder Roscio that the peeuish Girle
Comes on so slowly on perswasions
That I can vse, do mooue the setting forth
Count Uirroes greatnesse, wealth and dignity
Seemes not to affect her, Roscio.

Roscio.
I doubt the cause my Lord,
For were not that, I dare ingage my life,
She would be wonne to loue him, she has plac'd
Already her affections on some other.

Poli.
How should I find it out

Ros.
Why thus my Lord
Theres neuer man nor woman that ere loued,
But chose some bosome friend whose close conuerse,
Sweeten their ioyes, and ease their burdened minds
Of such a working secret, thus no doubt
Has my yong Lady done, and but her woman,
Who should it be, tis she must out with it,
Her secrecy if wit cannot orereach,
Gold shall corrupt, leaue that to me my Lord,
But if her Ladies heart doe yet stand free
And vnbequeath'd to any, your command
And fathers iurisdiction enterpos'd
Will make her loue the Count, no kind of moanes
must want to draw her.

Pol.
Thou art my Oracle,
My Braine, my Soule, my very being Roscio,
Walke on and speede whilst I but second thee.

Cle.
It is euen so, Count Uirro is your riuall,
See how the old Ape smugs vp his mouldy chaps
To seize the bit.

Phi.
He must not if I liue,
But yet her father brings him that has the meanes
That I should euer want.

Cle.
If he do marry her
Reuenge it nobly, make him a Cuckold boy,

Phi.
Thou iests that feeles it not, prithee lets goe,

Cle.
Stay, Ile not curse him briefely for thy sake,
If thou doest marry her mayest thou be made
A Cuckold without profit, and nere get
An Office by it, nor fauour at the Court,
But may thy large ill gotten treasury
Be spent in her bought lust, and thine owne gold
Bring thee adulterers, so farewell good Count.

Exeunt Phiocles.
Enter Seruant.
Ser.
My Lord, ther's a Messenger within
Desires accesse, has businesse of import,
Which to no eare but yours he must impart.

Enter Eugenio disguised.
Pol.
Admit him, now friend, your businesse with me.

Ser.
If you be the Lord Polimetes.

Pol.
The same.

Euge.
My Lord, I come from Athens with such newes
As I dare say is welcome though vnlooked for,
Your sonne Eugenio liues whom you so long
Thought dead and mourn'd for.

Pol.
How, liues.

Euge.
Vpon my life my Lord I saw him well
Within these few dayes.

Pol.
Thankes for thy good newes,
Towards him Roscio, but now tell me frend
Hast thou reueal'd this newes to any man
In Syracuse but me.

Eu.
To none my Lord,
At euery place where I haue staid in towne,
Enquiring for your Lordships house, I heard
These tragicke, but false newes, the contrary
I still conceald, though knew, intending first
Your Lordships eare should drinke it.

Pol.
Worthy fiend.
I now must thanke your wisedome as your loue
In this well carried action, Ile requite it,
Meane time pray vse my house, and still continue your
Silence in this businesse, Roscio make him welcome, and
Part as little from him as you can for feare.

Ro.
Thinke it done, my Lord.

Pol.
Psecas come hither.

Vir.
Be like your selfe, let not a cruell doome
Passe those faire lips, that neuer were ordain'd
To kill, but to reuiue.

Leu.
Neither my Lord
Lyes in the power to doe.

Vir.
Yes sweete to me.
Whom your scorne kils, and pitty will reuiue.

Leu.
Pitty is shew'd to men in misery.

Vir.
And so am I, if not relieu'd by you.

Leu.
Twere pride in me, my Lord, to thinke it so.

Vir.
I am your beauties captiue.

Leu.
Then my Lord,
What greater gift then freedome can I giue,
Tis that that Captiues most desires, and that
You shall command, y'are free from me my Lord,

Vir.
Your beauty contradicts that freedome Lady.

Pol.
come noble Couut, I must for this time interrupt you
You'le finde time enough within to talke.

Uir.
Ile wait vpon your Lordship.

exeunt manet Euge. solus.
Euge.
Thus in disguise I haue discouer'd all,
And found the cause of my reported death,
Which did at first amaze me, but tis well,
Tis to draw on the match betweene my sister
And this rich Count, heauen grant it be content
As well as fortune to her, but I feare
She cannot loue his age, how it succeedes
I shall perceiue, and whilst vnknowne I stay,
I cannot hurt the proiect, helpe I may.

Exit.
Enter Francisco, Sumner.
Fran.
This will make good worke for you in the spirituall
Court, Shallow is a rich man.

Sum.
I marry Sir,
Those are the men we looke for, ther's somewhat
To be got, the Court has many businesses at this
Time, but they are little worth, a few waiting
Women got with child by Seruingmen or so, scarce
Worth the citing.

Fran.
Do not their Masters get
Vm with child sometimes.

Sum.
Yes no doubt, but
They haue got a trick to put vm off vpon their
Men, and for a little portion saue their
Owne credits; besides, these priuate marriages
Are much out of our way, we cannot know when
There is a fault.

Fran.
Well, these are no
Starters I warrant you, Shallow shall not deny it,
And for the Wench she neede not confesse it, she has
A marke that will betray her.

Sum.
I thanke you
Sir for your good intelligence, I hope tis certaine.

Franc.
Feare not that, is your citation ready.

Sum.

I haue it heere.

Franc.

Well step aside, and come
when I call, I heare vm comming.

Exit Sumner.
Enter Franklin, Shallow, Luce, Parson.
Frank.
Set forward there, Francisco what make you here.

Franc.
I come to claime my right, Parson take heede,
Thou art the Author of adultery
If thou conioyne this couple, shee's my wife.

Frank.

you saucebox.

Shal.

Father, I thought she had
beene mine, I hope I shall not loose her thus.

Frank.

Francisco, dare notto interrupt vs, for I sweare
thou shalt endure the lawes extremity

For thy presumption.

Franc.
doe your worst, I feare not,
I was contracted to her.

Frank.
What witnesse haue you.

Franc.

Heauen is my witnesse, whose imperiall eye saw
our contract.

Shal.

What an Asse is this to talke of contracting,
hee that will get a wench, must make her bigger
as I haue done, and not contract.

Franc.

Sir, you are abus'd.

Shal.

Why so.

Franc.

The wife you goe to marry is
with child, and by another.

Shal.

A good iest yfaith, make
me beleeue that.

Franc.

How comes this foole possest, he
neuer toucht her I dare sweare.

Frank.
No more Francisco as you will answere it,
Parson set forward there.

Franc.
stay,
If this will not suffice, Sumner come forth.

Frank.
A Sumner, we are all betraid.

Enter Sumner.
Sum.
God saue you all, I think you guesse my businesse,
These are to cite to the spirituall Court
You master Shallow, and you mistresse Luce,
Aske not the cause, for tis apparant here,
A carnall copulation, ante matrimonium.

Frank.
This was a barre vnlookt for, spitefull Francisco

Franc.
Iniurious Franklin, could the lawes diuine,
Or humane suffer, such an impious act,
That thou shouldst take my true and lawfull wife,
And great with child by me, to giue t'another,
Gulling his poore simplicity.

Shal.
Do you meane me Sir.

Sum.
Gallants Farewell, my writ shall be obeyd.

Frank.
Summer it shall.

exit Summer
Par.
Ile take my leaue, theres nothing now for me to do

Frank.
Farewell good master Parson.

exit Parson
Frank.

Francisco canst thou say thou euer louedst my
daughter, and wouldst thou thus disgrace her openly.

Franc.
No, I would win her thus,
And did you hold her credit halfe so deare
As I, or her content, you would not thus
Take her from me, and thrust her against her will
On this rich foole.

Sha.
You are very bold with me Sir.

Franc.
Let me haue newes what happens dearest Luce.

Luc.
Else let me die.

exit Francisco.
Frank.
This was your doing Luce, it had beene
Vnpossible he should ere haue knowne the time
So truly else, but Ile take an order next time
For you babling.

Sha.
Whats the matter father.

Fran.
We may
Thanke you for it, this was your haste that will
Now shame vs all, you must be doing a fore your
Time.

Sha.
Twas but a tricke of youth father,

Frank.
And threrefore now you must eene stand in a
White sheete for all to gaze at.

Sha.
How,
I would be loath to weare a surplesse now, tis a
Disgrace the house of the Shallowes neuer knew.

Fran.

All the hope is, officers may be brib'd, and so they
will, twere a hard world for vs to liue in else.

Shal.

You say true father, if twere not for corruption, euery
poore rascall might haue iustice as well as one of vs,
and that were a shame.

exeunt Shal. Luce
Frank.
This was a cunning stratagem well layd,
But yet Francisco th'hast not won the prize:
What should I do, I must not let this cause
Proceed, to tryall in the open Court,
For then my daughters oath will cast the child
Vpon Francisco: no, I haue found a better,
I will before the next Court day prouide
Some needy Parson, one whose pouerty
Shall make him feare no Cannons, he shall marry
My daughter to rich Shallow, when tis done
Our gold shall make a silence in the Court.

Exit.
Enter Philocles, Psecas.
Pse.
I must returne your answere to my Lady,
Ile tell her you will come.

Phil.
Come,
And such a Angell call, I should forget
All Offices of Nature, all that men
Wish in their second thoughts, ere such a duty
Commend my seruice to her, and to you
My thankes for this kind Message.
exit Psecas.
I neuer breath'd till now, neuer till now now
Did my life relish sweetenesse, breake not heart,
Cracke not yee feeble Ministers of nature
With inundation of such swelling ioy,
To great to beare without expression:
The Lady writes that she has knowne me long
By sight, and lou'd me, and she seemes to thanke
Her starres she loues, and is belou'd againe,
She speakes my very thoughts, by heauen tis strange
And happy when affections thus can meete;
She further writes at such an houre to day,
Her fathers absence, and all household spies
Fitly remoou'd, shall giue accesse to me
Vnmarkt to visit her, where she alone
Will entertaine discourse and welcome me.
I hope tis truely meant, why should I feare,
But wisedome bids me feare: fie, fie, tis base,
To wrong a creature of that excellence,
With such suspicion I should iniure her,
I will as soone suspect an angell false,
Treason neare lodg'd within so faire a brest,
No, if her hand betray me, I will will runne
On any danger, tis alike to me
To dye, or find her false, for on her truth
Hangs my chiefe being, well Ile lose no time
No not a minute, dearest loue I come,
To meete my sweetest wishes I will flye,
Heauen and my truth, sheild me from trechery.

Exit.